Web game board system

ABSTRACT

A web game board system allowing a number of players to play a board game in which the surface of the board game is printed from a website and attached to a support surface. The game is played between the game board attached to the support surface and a website through a personal computer or laptop. Information relating to the movement of a player&#39;s piece upon the game board is transmitted to the website through the laptop or personal computer utilizing IR, RF or similar waveforms. A retractable mechanical arm is provided between a game controller and the game piece.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to game systems utilizing the internet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is quite apparent that the last number of years has seen the internet grow from a modest beginning in the 1970's serving to link a few individuals together for scientific research to the present in which the use of the internet is ubiquitous in modern day culture. The internet has allowed various institutions as well as individuals to research various topics as well as to view video clips in real time. In its time, the internet has grown from merely a research tool to a source of enjoyment for adults as well as children. A multitude of different games can be played on the internet by both parents and children. This is accomplished by using personal or laptop computers to interact with various games stored on the internet. However, these games are generally played solely using the keyboard or mouse associated with each computer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The drawbacks of the prior art are addressed by the present invention which employs the internet to play a board game physically located and able to be manipulated by the use of a game board and a computer in communication with the internet. A game board would be physically removed from the internet and can be used for a number of types of games. The game board system would be integrated with e-learning and virtual reality modeling language (VRML) used as a multi-sensory interactive game board in communication with a particular website. Manipulative game play with audio visual affects would create a simulating learning environment for both children and adults. The children will be mesmerized as their computer screen comes alive with incredible video, still footage, games, puzzles as well as easy-to-challenging trivia questions with audio discussion. Each of the players would accumulate points which would allow them to cross the threshold into a virtual reality game played.

Once the website is opened, the player would select a game to be played. This game would then be purchased and the actual game board would be printed and inserted into or attached to the surface of a game board. The game board would communicate with the player's computer and ultimately with the website utilizing infrared (IF), electromagnetic radio frequency (RF) waves or similar wireless technologies.

Movement on the game board would coincide with a cursor on the screen of the computer system. A mechanical arm or similar device would allow an individual, in conjunction with a game controller to move the game piece on the game board which is physically removed from the computer. The movement of the piece on the game board would be reflected by the movement of the cursor on the game board projected on the computer screen. The game controller, such as a mouse would allow the player to activate a random game mode including, but not limited to, video, still photographs, distorted puzzles, games or multiple choice trivia questions. Utilizing the game controller, mouse or the computer keyboard, various questions would be answered and points awarded to correctly answering the questions. The web site would record the points awarded to each player, allowing the player to purchase various items, such as a virtual reality world character. In this context, the virtual world theme would be the same as the game theme.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent when the detailed description is studied in conjunction with the drawings in which like items are designated by like reference characters in the various drawing figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the board game system;

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the internal mechanism of the web game system; and

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an internal tracking system of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates the web game system of the present invention. This system includes a game system 12 in communication with a personal computer or laptop 22 by infrared, electromagnetic radio signal frequency (RF) waves or similar wireless technologies. The game system 12 includes a support 13 onto which a game board 14 would be attached. The game board 14 is obtained by purchasing the game board from a particular website to which the computer 22 has access. The game board would be printed out and attached to the support 13 by various devices. These devices must allow the printable game board 14 to be removed from the support 13 allowing other game boards to be utilized. For example, the game board 14 could be taped to support 13 or a rubber band can be applied in the manner to removably attach the game board 14 to the support 13. Alternatively, the game board 14 could be clipped onto the support 13.

The game board 14 would have a plurality of spaces 18 thereon. Although not depicted, the spaces would be provided with various pictures or words relating to the type of game which is played and other things relating to the game such as categories onto which a game piece/wireless computer mouse 16 would land. Although the game board 14 shows the game board spaces 18 surrounding the center of the game board, it is possible that the game board spaces 18 could be included in a circuitous route in the center of the game board. What is important is that once the game piece 16 lands on a particular game board space 18, information relating to the particular game space 18 upon which the game piece 16 lands must be communicated to the website through IR or RF communication between the game system 12 and the computer 22 which would then be relayed to the website over the internet.

A game controller 10 is provided within or attached to the game system 12 and is used to control the movement of the game piece 16 around the game board 14 provided with game board spaces 18. A retractable arm 34 is physically attached to the game controller 10 as well as the game piece 16. A magnetic disc 32 is attached to the bottom of the game piece 36 as well as to the mechanical arm 34 allowing movement of the game piece 16 across the game board 14 having the game spaces 18 provided thereon. The exact position of the game piece 16 is transmitted to the computer 22 by IR, RF or similar waveforms allowing the movement of the game piece 16 to be reflected on the computer screen 23. This computer screen is provided with a pictorial representation of the game board provided with game board spaces 25 as well as showing the placement of the game piece 16 on the game board 14 through the use of an icon 27. It can be appreciated that the game board shown on the screen 23 is an exact replica of the game board 14.

Since the game piece 16 can be a wireless computer mouse, the exact determination of the game piece 16 on the game board 14 can easily be relayed to the computer 22 which is also in communication with the website through the internet. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the retractable arm 34 is concealed through the support 13 as is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Alternatively, a tracking system 50 as shown in FIG. 3 which is provided below the game board spaces would be used to track the position of the game board piece 16.

During play, the website would be contacted utilizing the keyboard 21 of the computer 22 when the player opens the website and selects a particular game to be played. This game would include a game board which must be purchased from the website. Once this game board is purchased, the game board would be supplied to the player, such as by allowing the player to print the game board and then to attach it to the support 13. The web page game board remains open and would coincide with the game play of the game system.

Once the game board 14 is attached to the support 13, the play of the game would be initiated. A die or spinner which is either physically removed from the website or is included on the website and is accessed using the keyboard 21 is initiated, to determine the move or moves on the game board. The player would then use the game controller 10 to move the game piece 16 to the appropriate game board space 18. Once the game piece is situated on the appropriate game board space 18, the player would click the game controller or the game piece to activate a random game mode, such as a video, still pictures, distorted puzzles, games or multiple choice trivia questions which would appear in the middle of the computer screen 23 within the game board projected thereon. The player would then have an opportunity to answer the questions by utilizing the game controller 10 or the keyboard 21. The player would be awarded points for each correctly answered question and these points would be stored and then calculated at the website to allow the player to purchase virtual reality world characters. Once this occurs, the player would click on a virtual world space located on one of the spaces 18 of the game board or utilizing the computer screen 23 or the keyboard 21. Since it is important that each player's score be separately stored and calculated, the signal indicating where a particular game piece would land would also indicate which of a number of player pieces is on that game board space 18.

While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise than as herein specifically illustrated or described, in that certain changes in form and arrangement of parts in the specific manner of practicing the invention may be made within the underlying idea or principals of the invention. 

1. A game system in communication with a web site through the use of a personal computer or laptop provided with a screen comprising: a support surface; a game board printed from the website, said game board removably attached to the top of said support surface, said game board provided with a plurality of game spaces; a plurality of game pieces for movement across said plurality of game spaces; a game controller provided with a retractable arm used to move each of said plurality of game pieces across said plurality of game spaces; a means of transmitting the position of each of said plurality of game pieces from said plurality of game spaces to the personal computer or laptop and then to the website; and means for projecting information on the screen based upon a particular game space onto which one of said game pieces is situated.
 2. The game system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said retractable arm is provided under said support surface.
 3. The game system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for transmitting said position of each of said plurality of game pieces is wireless.
 4. The game system in accordance with claim 3, wherein said means for transmitting said position of each of said plurality of game pieces is through the use of IR or RF energy.
 5. The game system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said information is in the form of a question.
 6. The game system in accordance with claim 5, further including a means in communication with the website for answering said question.
 7. The game system in accordance with claim 6, wherein points are awarded for correctly answering said question, said points stored in the website.
 8. The game system in accordance with claim 7, wherein virtual characters can be purchased based upon a player earning a threshold level of points. 